Basilicata is a region that is rarely taken by tourists, but it has a lot to offer its guests. Its past has its roots in prehistoric times and this can be seen in the numerous testimonies of the archaeological areas present in the region. Then its cuisine and its folklore are rich in different influences due to the various invasions suffered over the centuries.
From the white beaches to the turquoise sea, from the villages dug into the rocks to the castles perched on top of silent mountains, Basilicata and this and more, you will also be struck by the wonderful nature that frames everything.
Here we recommend 10 places to visit absolutely .
1 – The Sassi of Matera
The Sassi are the ancient part of Matera, that is some rock buildings and architectures literally carved into the rock . The term “sassi” refers to the two districts that make up the historic center: Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. In these districts there are elegant and articulated structures that alternate with underground labyrinths and caves, creating a very particular landscape effect.
Cave-houses that can be visited are carved into the stone of the Sassi, but also important churches such as Santa Lucia alle Malve , the Convicinio di S. Antonio and the Church of Santa Maria di Idris . The Museum of Contemporary Sculpture is located inside the historic Palazzo Pomarici .
Then, as the sun goes down, the lights of the houses and small businesses come on making this charming town declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site even more magical . If you are visiting them for the first time, you can rely on a 2-hour guided tour.
2 – Maratea
Maratea is the only center of Basilicata overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its coast extends for more than 30 km and is characterized by inlets, caves, rocks, shoals and mostly pebbly beaches. Also along the southern stretch is the small island of Santo Janni, where the Dragon of Santo Janni lives, an endemic blue-brown lizard. For its landscape, artistic and historical heritage, Maratea is known as “the Pearl of the Tyrrhenian”.
The village stands at the foot of Monte San Biagio, on which the Christ the Redeemer stands , symbol of the town that overlooks the historic center. With its 22 meters high and the tallest statue in Italy .
Among the things not to be missed there is certainly the historic center with its intertwined alleys, flowered balconies and the many churches for which Maratea is famous. And then also the Palazzo de Lieto , which houses a permanent exhibition of underwater archeology and several temporary exhibitions.
This Lucanian town is also a destination for trekking enthusiasts , Monte San Biagio in fact offers nature trails that, even with guided tours, allow you to reach Christ the Redeemer and the Basilica of San Biagio.
3 – Pollino National Park
In addition to Basilicata, it also occupies part of Calabria, including the provinces of Cosenza, Matera and Potenza. There are more than 192 thousand hectares of protected area that make up the largest natural park in our country , a paradise for trekking, climbing and mountain biking. The main activity inside the Pollino Park is constituted by the walks along thepaths that lead to the Piani, the peaks of Dolcedorme, the Serra di Crispo, the Raganello gorges . But not only that, in the municipality of Viggianello there is the longest cross-country ski track in all of southern Italy , here you are surrounded by peaks up to 2,000 meters high and immense beech woods.
Of the municipalities that are part of the Pollino territory, we recommend that you visit Castelluccio Inferiore of particular historical-archaeological interest, and San Severino Lucano where the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Pollino is located , an important destination for a deeply rooted religious cult in the local people. But also the highest village in the park, Alessandria del Carrettoin the province of Cosenza, which still preserves ancient cultural traditions.
4 – Metaponto, Policoro and Pisticci
On the Ionian coast you can visit ancient cities of Magna Graecia , such as Policoro, Metaponto and Pisticci.
Policoro contends with Metaponto for the title of the most popular tourist resort on the Ionian coast of Lucania. Between sea and archaeological finds , here you will find large sandy beaches, crystal clear waters where it is not at all rare to see some sea turtles, and then a few steps from the village is the archaeological site of Heraclea.
In Metaponto you can take a guided tour that passes through the Apollonio Licio Archaeological Parkand ends at the Pantanello site. Do not miss the beautiful beaches here too, low, sandy and shaded by two large pine forests.
A short distance from the Piana di Metaponto there is also Pisticci , whose inhabited area has the shape of an “S” and constitutes a sort of natural amphitheater, a characteristic for which it is called “the amphitheater on the Ionian”, but also “the balcony on the Ionian Sea “at 364 m asl. The historic center of Pisticci is divided into districts, Terravecchia constitutes the highest and oldest part, where the Castle , the ancient gate of the town, the Mother Church, the Church of the Annunziata and the ruins of the Church of the Madonna della Stella are located.
5 – Dolomiti Lucane
The peaks are not as high as the Nordic ones, but the Lucanian Dolomites also offer noteworthy views. You can discover the village of Pietrapertosa through a tour to the Arabata area , the historic center and the Norman-Swabian Castle . But also Castelmezzano , famous for the Flight of the Angel , a cableway that in the summer allows you to “fly” suspended in the air at a speed of 120 km / h. And if you don’t have the courage for such an adrenaline-pumping experience, you can always enter the characteristic streets of the village lined with white houses built into the rock and discover the rest of the historic center.
Of great interest to climbers are theVie Ferrate , equipped routes that allow you to reach otherwise unreachable points, and the Nepalese Bridge , which serves to connect the two starting points (Vie Ferrate Salemm in Castelmezzano and Marcirosa in Pietrapertosa).
Furthermore, the winter in the Lucanian Dolomites is long and lasting and satisfies all skiers with the ski areas located in the province of Potenza. These include Monte Sirino, which remains covered with snow until late spring, and the Sellata-Arioso ski area, easily reachable from Potenza.
6 – Paleolithic Park of Atella
Immersed in a natural setting where the beauties of a colorful landscape emerge unchallenged, the small town of Atella hides the memory of a past that has its roots in very ancient times. In fact, near the cemetery some finds have been found that testify to the presence of prehistoric settlements in the area . It is thought that probably 650-550 thousand years ago this place was inhabited by groups of homo-erectus who hunted animals and worked the stone.
Today the Paleolithic site is located in the heart of Basilicata, near the modern municipal cemetery of Atella, and is accessible on request and free of charge. The green hills are the frame together with vineyards and olive groves.
7 – Vulture: Melfi, Venosa and Monticchio Lakes
Vulture is the name with which the northern area of ​​Basilicata is called , from Monte Vulture, an inactive volcano on the border with Puglia and Campania. At the base of the mountain rises the village of Melfi , where you can discover one of the most important Italian medieval castles , the 10 towers that surround it and the beautiful village with the 11th century Cathedral. Venosa is
also located in the Vulture and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. Here the Romans, Jews, Goths, Lombards, Saracens, Spaniards and many others left their mark, practically walking around Venosa and like crossing a history book. The ideal is to visit it with a guide during a tour around the country. Because there is so much to know aboutArchaeological Park with its thermal baths , the domus , the SS Trinita , the amphitheater and the house of Horace .
But in the enchanting scenery of the Vulture there are also the two Monticchio lakes, which have the highest temperature of the Italian lakes. The area of ​​Lago Piccolo is a protected reserve and habitat of a very rare moth that can have a wingspan of 70 mm. It is the ideal place for a relaxing trip in the countryside, even for the Lucanians themselves.
8 – Ghost town of Craco
In the province of Matera is Craco, the ghost town abandoned in 1963 following a landslide. But in 2010 he entered the list ofmonuments to be safeguarded and therefore it is possible to visit it in complete safety. The tourists who reach Craco every year are thousands, most of them cinephiles because it has been the set of numerous films.
The inhabitants who, following the landslide and earthquakes, did not move to Craco Peschiera today reside in the new district adjacent to the historic center.
In 2 hours you can visit the whole town together with the MEC , the Emotional Museum of Craco, housed in the ancient monastery of San Pietro and which includes a projection room and a digital historical, cinematographic and memory archive. It is the municipality itself that has devised the itineraries for guided tours that allow you to enter the core of the ghost town, this as a recovery plan for the village.
9 – Grumento Nova and Val d’Agri
To discover other hidden treasures of Basilicata you have to go deeper inland, where for example there is the village of Grumento Nova. At the foot of the hill on which it stands there are the remains of the ancient Roman city of Grumentum , of which the archaeological area can be visited with the National Museum of the Alta Val d’Agri which houses Roman and pre-Roman finds and testimonies of wine and Magna Graecia. But don’t miss a visit to Sanseverino Castle and the Mother Church as well .
And if you want to move in the middle of wild nature there is the perfect place, the Val d’Agri. Almost the entire territory is part of the National Park of, and mainly flat and in the mountainous areas, hiking and ski tourism are in strong development. For all Lucanians and tourists who like to ski, mountain holidays in Basilicata are a safe choice, the ski areas are all located within the Lucanian Apennine Park and all in the province of Potenza. Viggiano is the most interesting town being surrounded by the highest peaks, here there are in fact Monte Volturino and Montagna Grande.
10 – Aliano and Carlo Levi Literary Park
Finally you cannot miss a stop in Aliano, which stands perched on a hill and presents itself with a surrounding area characterized by the typical landscape of the gullies. This small town in the province of Matera inspired Carlo Levi in ​​writing the book Christ stopped in Eboli, so much so that some symbolic phrases of the book are imprinted in the alleys. The writer spent part of his period of confinement there, later he was also buried there.
An association was also born, that of the Carlo Levi Literary Park, which with guided tours, events, food and wine and handicraft activities, has become a point of reference in the local cultural panorama. In fact, it is possible to discover the landscape described by Levi through various paths to be done on foot and of different difficulties, but also to visit with the guide the writer’s house exactly as it was left by him in 1936 and his tomb.
Plan your trip: how to get there and where to sleep
The closest airports to Basilicata are those of Naples-Capodichino and Bari-Palese , shuttles are available to reach both Matera and Potenza (flights starting from € 10.00). Alternatively you will have to rely on the Naples-Reggio Calabria railway line that connects Potenza with Taranto, but also the Foggia-Potenza and the Taranto-Sibari. If you organize a trip to discover the main tourist cities of the region, stay in Matera or Maratea, the latter also perfect for summer holidays on the Tyrrhenian coast (see the offers).
San Severino Lucano, on the other hand, is ideal for a more relaxing stay surrounded by greenerydel Parco del Pollino (look at the offers). Among the most suitable locations for a holiday on the snow there is absolutely Viggiano (see the offers), but also Lagonegro (see the offers). Basilicata is also the perfect destination for lovers of archeology and history , stay in this case in the north, in Venosa (see the offers) or Atella (see the offers), but also in Policoro (see the offers).
